St. Paul daily globe., 1887-08-15
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
Recalled by Sermon.by Rev. Falk
GjertS n.

Rev. w. Falk Gjertsen preached at
Trinity Norwegian Lutheran church
from Luke xix, 41-42 on Jesus weeping
over Jerusalem.
The church remembers on this Sun
day the destruction of JeruSalem; and
it is good to be remembered of it. 1t
teaches US how true the Word of God is
and how surely it shall be fulfilled.
The nations measure of sin is full. The
long day of grace is drawing to close
the day of judgment is coming. Scat
tered over the earth, this nation is an eX-
ample to all nations. how it
fares with a people that has
left God. Salvation is of the Jews, but
they themselves have no part in the sal
vatiOn that proceeds from them. The
natural branch of the olive is broken off,
the wild branch is grated in. The de-
struction of Jerusalem is the great turn
ing point in the history of the kingdom
of God, when the Gentiles take the
place of Israel. But we shall not only
remember Israel,we shall think of our
selves. Look at Him who stands out
there in bold relief on the Mount of
Olives. Do you hear the tender words?
DO you see his tears fall? You know
Him, it is your Savior. What sermon
in those tears. Who can fOrg ct
them? Who can forget fathers tears.
a mothers tears? How they come back,
how they burn in the heart; here are
the tears of your Saviour. And why
does He weep? Look at the preceding
iOvGus scene. The multitudeS follow
ing him, scattering their clothes and
olive branches before him, shouting
their HosannahS, the very air filled with
light and joy and song. Only the
PhariSeeS are silent, murmuring words
of hatred. Having assembled the Mount
of Olives, the beautiful city comes into
full view. The shouts cease, the multi
tude is silent. The city lies before
them glittering in the sunshine, sight
lSraelite with joy. The paSchal
feast is at hand. Mountain
and valley. street and market place are
filled with the Swaying multitude. The
temple is adorned to receive the gather
ing of the people from the ends of the
earth, the smoke of the sacrifice aScendS,
songs of praise arise, the great cOngre-
CATION of Israel is worshipping God.
And as his eye sees it all, it is filled with
tears. Why does he weep? He sees
through it all. 1t is as whitewaShed
Sepulcher. The outward glitter is only
flowers around dead corpse. From
the mountain he sees in the
distance the storm gathering
and the lightning fall, Shatter-
ring the hollow mOckery of their new
ship and bringing death and destruc-
tion upon this favorCdpeople. And Why?
Because they knew not their time of
visitation, but filled the measure of
their transgresSjOnS by rejecting their
Savior And we have our time of visit
ations, our seasons of grace, when the
word of God is brought near to our
heart, when the heavenly call is heard
in our souls, when we feel the nearnesS
and power of the kingdom of God.
The Gentiles received them, whom
the Jews rejected. One is taken, the
other is left. Which one are you? Sal
vatiOn is preached, how few who hear.
The bridal feast is prepared, how few
that come; as the Jews scorned Christ's
word of the judgment to come, so this
generation. Do you know the things
which belong unto your peace? Have
YOU received or rejected Christ? But as
many as received him, to them he gave
power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on His name.